The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation are calling for the HSE to enter talks at the Workplace Relations Commision.
74 people were forced to wait on trolleys at CUH and the Mercy yesterday, according to the latest Trolley Watch figures from the INMO.
The union say the current level of overcrowding is at winter levels and calling for the HSE to reconvene their Emergency Taskforce.
They also want to discuss the HSE's responsibility towards its employees with the Health and Safety Authority.
Speaking to RedFM News, Colm Porter from the INMO in Cork says they want the HSE to renew its commitment to a 2016 Emergency Department agreement to tackle overcrowding and problems with retention of staff.
"The numbers at the minute are absolute through the roof.
"We see this concentrated in Cork, but right across the country as well, trolley numbers are absolutely through the roof, so its time for the HSE to act now and the only way to do that is through the WRC, and to get the emergency department agreement back to where it should be."
